Page 49 of Mine

My feet moved effortlessly as Rosie appeared next to me, her hand slipping into mine, as I gave her a small smile. We skated to the music in a companionable silence, my thoughts filled with memories of being here with Luke. Rosie squeezed my hand, nodding towards the bar where they served the infamous orange hot chocolate.

“Feeling better?” Rosie smiled kindly as she blew on her hot chocolate.

We settled into the booth we usually occupied, the one that overlooked the entire rink.

My shoulders relaxed as I exhaled, nodding.

Rosie scanned my face with a frown, her eyes filled with concern.

“Yeah, I needed this. It clears the mind,” I frowned as I glanced around us. “Where’s Sienna?”

Rosie sipped her hot cocoa and followed my gaze. She whipped her head around in different directions until she groaned. “Oh, God.”

Sienna was skating beside Ethan, followed by Finn and Luke.

Luke grinned at Finn, his gaze on the floor as he skated. He moved over the ice with annoying ease, his dark hair in his eyes as he looked up towards me, our eyes locked on one another for the briefest of moments. But it was enough for an entire conversation. He looked away; his face crumpled beneath my steely gaze.

“Shit, Gretch, I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know he would be here,” Rosie’s face fell with dismay, her fingers on her forehead as she closed her eyes. “I saidgirlsonly.”

“I don’t want to spend my evening with my ex, I really don’t,” I mumbled as I rose to my feet.

There was no way I was doing this, playing at being civil. Not with the guy that had cheated on me for the past year.

No fucking way.

“I’m leaving.”

“What? No, no way,” Rosie laced her arm through mine, ducking under the DJ booth to where some tables lay hidden from view.

“I think we’ll be safe in here,” Rosie glanced anxiously behind us at the rink, her cheeks flushed. “Do you hate him that much?”

“I’m so sorry, Rosie. It’s not just me that fucked up, Luke isn’t innocent in this,” I sniffed, knowing I had to tell someone the truth.

Rosie hummed in response, whipping her head up to me as she did a double take. “What?”

“Luke was sleeping with Krystal through our entire relationship,” I explained as I laughed hollowly. “He’s a fuckinghypocrite.”

Rosie looked like I’d slapped her, her mouth formed into an O as she struggled to find words. “Please tell me you’re lying, Gretchen,” Rosie whispered, her head in her hands. “Luke loves you—”

Oh boy, he has a funny way of showing it.

“I don’t care now, Rosie. I’m with Cal,” I shrugged, as two shadows fell over the table.

“Here you are,” Sienna smiled, oblivious to Rosie’s glare.

We all sat and chatted for a while until Finn and Luke wandered over.

Luke pushed his hands into his jeans, his eyes on me.

I avoided his stare as Rosie nudged her leg against mine under the table in what I could only imagine was empathy. I knew she was pissed; she had promised a girls’ night out, and this felt like I was back in school again.

I asked Ethan if I could squeeze past him, explaining to the girls I needed to go.

Sienna frowned as Rosie shot her a dark look.

“Want me to walk with you?” Rosie asked as she rose to her feet.

“Funny how you leave when we turn up,” Finn said drily, his eyes narrowing at me.